30 Lloyds Pharmacy stores affected by tomorrow’s industrial action

Mandate Trade Union apologise for inconvenience to public but say company has left workers with no alternative

Mandate Trade Union has named the stores likely to be affected by tomorrow’s (Thursday, 14th June 2018) industrial action in Lloyds Pharmacy.

At 10am up to 200 workers in 30 Lloyds Pharmacy stores across the country will participate in official industrial action which will last for one hour. The Union says only 30 stores have been selected at this point in order to cause as little inconvenience to the public as possible, but that this could escalate if the company does not respond positively to the workers’ demands.

The Union is naming the stores in the public interest and asking that customers of Lloyds Pharmacy support the workers during this period of time.

Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary said:

“We are asking customers of Lloyds Pharmacy to please support the workers and obtain their medicines from an alternative supplier while this dispute is taking place.”

He added, “Our members do not want to be on strike, and are only taking this action as a last resort. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to the public but we ask for their understanding as our members are forced to take action.”

Mr Light explained, “The company refuses to engage with their trade union despite a Labour Court recommendation that stated: ‘“the Court recommends that the parties engage in order to seek agreement in relation to the matters raised by the Trade Union…’ Yet Lloyds Pharmacy management continue to ignore the Court, their members and their designated representatives.”

Mandate has been campaigning for improvement in working condition in Lloyds Pharmacy, including:

A pay increase and incremental pay scales;

The introduction of a sick pay scheme;

Security of hours and the elimination of zero hour contracts; and

Improvements in annual leave entitlements and public holiday premiums.

LloydsPharmacy Ireland operates 88 stores across the Republic of Ireland with approximately 800 workers employed in their pharmacies.LloydsPharmacy is owned by the McKesson Corporation which is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world with revenues of $198.5 billion in 2017.

McKesson also own UDG Helthcare (formerly United Drug) which is headquartered in Ireland, and where the workers are afforded their right to trade union representation (SIPTU and Unite represent staff in Ireland).